Car-coupling



(No Model.)

C. F. PHELPS & R. A. LUCAS.

GAR GOUPLING.

Patented Nov. 25, 1890.

A TTOHNEYS- V UNITED Y STATES PATENT Curries.

CASPER F. PIIELPS AND RAYMOND A. LUCAS, OF KOHALA, HAWAII.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 441,580, dated November 25, 1890.

Application filed .Tuly 2l, 1890. Serial No'. 359,418. (No model.) I

.ually from either side of the cars, thus securing safety to the operator.

To this end our invention consists in certain features of construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying; drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate .corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a main portion of `the draw-head, the other portion being removed on the parting line 1 1 in Fig. 2, interior working parts being exposed, which are adj usted to engage a coupling-link. Fig. 2 is a plan view, in section, taken on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1 as they appear when in locked engagement with a coupling-link.

The draw-head consists of an elongated metallic bar longitudinally divided to receive interior parts, the line 1 1 in Fig. 2 indicating where the two pieces A A', which form the draw-head, are joined, screw-bolts ctbein gpreferably used to secure these sections together, both sections being iiared at the front end to receive a coupling-link B. The section A (shown in Figs. 1 and 3) has a circular recess laterally formed in it for the reception of a locking-disk I), and directly opposite said recess a similar cavity is produced in the section A of the draw-head, which will also re ceive a portion of the locking-disk when the two draw-head sections are secured together, an axial shaft c being introduced into aligning perforations in the draw-head sections, whereon the disk b is revolubly supported.

Each of the sections A A is excavated at the rear of the circular recess in which the disk b is seated, so as to produce an elongated cavity d. A slot is cut in the disk l) at e of a suitable depth from the peripheral edge inwardly and below the shaft c, thus producing a locking-tongue f on the disk, which will engage the link B, when the disk is caused to rock on its supporting-shaft by an end-thrust of the link, such a movement being permitted on account of the relative position of the slot e with regard to the shaft c.

At the rear terminal of the cavity CZ a circular formation is given thereto for the reception of the rounded end g of a latch-dog g, the parts fitting together to afford a knuckle-joint connection between the drawhead and dog. Above the latch-dog g the cavity d is enlarged to produce an upwardly and forwardly inclined wall, thus providing clearance for the latch-dog that it may engage with the locking-notches h h', that are cut in the edge of the disk h, or be released therefrom. The location of the notches h h is such with regard to the position given toV the slot e that the latch-dog g will engage with the notch h when the slot e lies extended toward the open front end of the draw-head free to receive the end-thrust of the couplinglink B and have a locking engagement with the notch h in the disk b after the link has been thrust against the inner terminal wall of the slot e and the disk partly rotated, so as to engage the tongue f with the couplinglink. A detent-stud t' is projected from' one face of the disk b and enters and traverses a curved slot t', laterally produced in the wall of the draw-head section A, which slot represents the arc of a circle struck from the shaft c as a center and serves to determine the rocking movement of the disk b by the impingement of the stud on the terminal end walls of the slot. Each of the notches 7i h has a shoulder produced at 7c, against which the free end of the latch-dog g will abut when it is engaged with either notch, said shoulders being adapted to prevent a revoluble movement of the disk b in an improper direction when the parts are uncoupled, and also to IOO prevent a rotative movement of said disk j while coupled until a disconnection of the latch-dog g is designedly produced, the stud '1I coacting therewith te effect such a locking action of the parts.

To facilitate the manipulation of the eoupling so as to release a coupling-link when desired and effect the same from either side of a car with safety, the cam-block m is secured on a transverse rock-shaft n, which rock-shaft projects through a lateral perforation in the draw-head at a proper point below the latchdog g for the rocking engagement of the camblock therewith, so as to elevate said latchdog and release the disk b when the shaft is revolubly moved in a proper direction.

As shown by dotted lines in Figs. l and 8, the crank-levers 0, which are secured upon the outer ends of the shaft n, are disposed in an :inclined position toward the front of the draw-head, so that the weight of the cra-nklevers will be utilized to hold the disk b in a position to receive the link B and retain saidA disk interlocked with the latch-dogg when a coupling has been eected.

The shaft n is shown broken in Fig. 2, it being designed to extend said rock-shaft t0- ward the sides of acar, whereon the coupling is placed, and thus permit the handles or levers 0 to be loosely connected to rods or chains that may extend to the top of the car and afford means for the disconnection of the coupling from the roof of the car.

Upon the lower forward corner of the camblock m a hook-bar p is pivoted, the free hooked end p of said bar being upwardly projected to have contact with the toe r on the disk Z), so as to return the cam-block m into position, (shown in full lines in Fig. 3,) when the disk b is rocked by the forward draft of the link B, and thusv moves the toe o' forwardly and upwardly, the contact of this toe with the hook p being shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

ln the attachment of the coupling to a car the usual approved springs are preferably employed to cushion the 'end-thrust of the link Bwhen two couplings are brought toward each other by the approach of cars When this is to be 1 which are to be coupled. effected, the link B is inserted within and coupled to one draw-head, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3, its connection with the locking-tongue f serving to support the inner end portion, that is also sustained by its contact with the lower surface of the draw-head throat, whereby the link will be supported in a nearly horizontal plane, so as to enter an approaching draw-head of a similar construction and engage therewith, as previously explained.

It is claimed for this coupling Vthat the parts are strong, few in number, and efficient in service, affording means for the automatic coupling of cars and a release of such an engagement without danger to the operator.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

l. A ear-couplin g consisting in the two-part draw-head A A', having a linkopening, a circular vertical internal recess at the rear of said opening, an internal recess d behind said circular recess and terminating at its rear end in a curved socket, the disk b, turning in said circular recess and provided with slot e and locking-shoulders, the latch-dog g, having a circular rear end g', turning in said socket and engaging the disk with its forward end, and means for operating said dog, the said dog and the disk being wholly inclosed within the draw-head, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the draw-head having a coupling-disk provided with a latchdog, of a cam for raising the dog, a hookbar pivoted to the cam and adapted toengage the disk and return the cam into its normal position, and means for operating the cam, substantially as described.

3. In a car-coupling, the combination,with a longitudinally-separable draw-head having an interior recess and a slotted disk pivoted in the recess and having an integral lockingtongue formed by the slot, of la verticallyvibratile latch-dog adapted to interlock with the notches in the disk, a cam-block `below the latch-dog, a hook-bar pivoted tothe camblock and adapted to 4engage a toe onthe slotted disk, and a rock-shaft'supporting the cam-block and means for `rocking it, substanstantially as set forth.

CASPER F. PI'IELPS. RAYMOND A. LUCAS. Witnesses:

CHAs. J. FALK', Il. J. SMITHnRs. 

